They are required to act as referees, police, bartenders, and group therapists, all while trying to maintain their balance walking up and down an aeroplane aisle.

If you want to be a happy traveller (and not get kicked off an aeroplane), you should learn a bit about what bugs flight attendants.

From boarding to leaving, here are some of the things that irk your in-flight crew, according to oyster.com.au.

BOARDING

1. PASSENGERS WHO REFUSE TO MOVE

“Many times we would get families that got separate seating in the boarding process and it would be left to the flight crew to resolve (the issue),” said Sarah Walbolt, a former flight attendant for SkyWest who now blogs for the site Roof and Skillet.

“The majority of people are great and help out. But it is annoying when you have business travellers who are flying alone, but are unwilling to change their seat for a family with children trying to travel together.”

If a passenger got opposition from a person unwilling to move, Ms Walbot advised ringing the service button as soon as possible and letting the flight crew take care of the problem.

“We can reach out to other people and there’s always someone who’s willing to assist,” she said. “We can even make that unwilling passenger move, but we don’t like to force anyone.”

2. HAPHAZARD BAG STORAGE

You’ve probably seen those passengers who threw their bags into the first available overhead compartment. Well, that happened a lot.

“It drives me crazy when I see a guy shoving his 26-inch Tumi (suitcase) into a bin above row 6, then continuing on to his assigned seat in row 52,” said Captain Patrick Smith of Ask the Pilot.

“I know it’s tempting, but this causes the forward bins to fill up quickly. Those seated in the front must now travel backward to stow their belongings, then return upstream, slowing everybody down. After landing, these same people have to fight their way rearward again while everybody else is trying to exit.”

Mr Smith thought assigned baggage bins should accompany assigned seating.

3. LAZY TALL MEN AND WOMEN

A surprising number of tall men and women expected flight attendants, who were sometimes shorter, to lift their bags into the overhead compartment, Ms Walbot said.

It was more funny than aggravating, she said added.

PREPARING FOR TAKEOFF

4. CRAMMING CARRY-ONS

We’ve all seen the passenger who tried to convince the flight attendant a carry-on that was too large to fit under the seat would be just fine as a foot rest.

Ms Walbot said many passengers didn’t realise the aisle must be clear under federal aviation regulations, so people could exit quickly if needed.

5. HIDING THE SEATBELT

If you thought you were being clever by putting a blanket over your lap to hide whether or not you’ve latched your seatbelt, the flight attendant was probably on to you.

Ms Walbot’s in-flight crew had an inventive way to combat the problem.

“My captain would often tell me that when I do a final walk-through of the cabin to provide him with the seat numbers of passengers who were trying to conceal the fact that they did not fasten their seatbelt,” she said.

“I handed over the seat numbers before closing the flight deck door. The captain would announce over the intercom that his seatbelt indicator panel revealed that the given numbers were not yet secured. He asked everyone to check and ensure that their belts were fastened.

“Suddenly, you saw passengers scrambling to buckle in!”

6. NOT TURNING OFF ELECTRONICS

Passengers trying to outwit the flight attendant and keep their mobile phone turned on probably occurred on every aeroplane.

On one flight Ms Walbot was working on, a businessman refused to turn off his laptop because he had too many emails to write. The flight had to delay its departure and the captain walked back to the man’s seat and asked him to turn off his computer.

“The businessman kept saying, ‘Just give me one more minute. I have something I need to finish’,” she said.

“The passenger shut his computer, but when we were on the runway, another traveller pointed out that he was typing again.”

Ms Walbot explained the situation to the captain who responded, “Tell the [passenger] to deplane last. There will be authorities waiting for him.”

Ms Walbot followed orders, and said the man turned as white as a sheet.

“He didn’t realise we had that authority,” she said.

The passenger had to give a statement to the authorities and was placed on a US Federal Aviation Administration watch list for noncompliance.

7. SHOWING UP DRUNK

Dealing with a drunk passenger was no fun for a flight attendant. On one flight Ms Walbot worked, a drunk flyer came on and screamed: “I’m going to get laid tonight!”

When the flight crew tried to get the partier to leave the flight, which was the last one taking the route that night, the passenger pleaded and said, “No, I’ll be good. I’ll be good.”

Using her group psychology skills, Ms Walbot got onto the flight intercom and explained the situation to the passengers.

“We have a person who really wants to get home tonight, but he has had a lot to drink,” she told the cabin.

“We’re going to make this decision together, and if we decide to take him, he’s ours for the entire flight.”

The assembled passengers voted the intoxicated individual off with a show of hands.

“That was how we showed him that we wanted him to stay — sober up and fly home the next day.”

8. ASKING FOR THINGS DURING TAKEOFF

On most flights, there is plenty of time to get a cup of water. Unless it’s an emergency, the best time to bug your flight attendant is not during takeoff.

DURING THE FLIGHT

9. TREATING THE HOSTIE LIKE CUSTOMER SERVICE:

Although few people saw flight attendants as having a commanding role, that was actually the truth, Ms Walbot said.

They were on the plane to make sure were safe and healthy — not to wait on their every whim.

10. SNAPPING

No one likes being snapped at, but plenty of people still consider it a great way to get someone’s attention.

If you think the flight attendant wasn’t seeing you, think again. Chances are, he or she is just busy and focusing on another passenger.

11. HANGING OUT IN THE GALLEY

Do you want a stranger to come sit at your desk or stand beside you while you’re trying to work? It is one thing to stretch your legs, and another to turn the galley into your standing office.

12. KEEPING YOUR EARPHONES IN

Taking out your earphones during a conversation isn’t tough. When you leave them in, you often wind up shouting at the flight attendant.

13. MAKING THE WORLD YOUR FOOTREST

Don’t hang your legs or feet on the armrest, window, or seat back. If you need more space, buy a first-class ticket.

14. GOING BAREFOOT

Jamming hundreds of people into a metal cylinder will inevitably create a germ-filled environment. Going barefoot just adds to the less-than-ideal atmosphere.

15. COMPLAINING ABOUT YOUR MEAL

There are many reasons why most aeroplane meals don’t deserve Michelin stars. Your in-flight crew can’t do anything to improve the quality or selections of the food.

16. REQUESTING A TEMPERATURE CHANGE

Differences of opinion about the most appropriate cabin temperature will likely crop up. A flight attendant can’t change the temperature inside the aeroplane, so it doesn’t help to ask.

17. HITTING THE CAN DURING LANDING

You know you’re supposed to stay seated after the wheels for landing drop. So, if you know you’re going to have to use the rest room, try your best to plan ahead.

DEPLANING

18. LEAVING RUBBISH BEHIND

The flight crew comes through with garbage bags several times during the flight. Do you really need to stuff that empty cup in the seat back pocket three minutes before deplaning?

19. FORGETTING MOBILE PHONES

While losing a mobile phone may be aggravating to the owner, it can also be a hassle for the flight attendant who needs to report the item and do his or her best to return it. Do your best to double check your seat area before leaving.

Related links:

• 14 Things about flight attendants you definitely don’t know

• 5 Flight attendant horror stories

• 7 Items all flight attendants carry in their bags

• Flight attendant shares her top travel beauty secrets

This article originally appeared on oyster.com.au and was reproduced with permission.